Do the Earth a big service by doing little things at home

In honor of Earth Day, we have tips from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley for saving resources, money and naturalizing your yard:

In honor of Earth Day, we have tips from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley for saving resources, money and naturalizing your yard:

1. Plant trees. Trees can act as windbreaks to reduce heating bills by 10-20 percent and shade and cool your house in the summer. Trees also filter pollutants from water, provide oxygen, remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and provide habitat.

2. Rain gardens collect and soak up water from downspouts. Rain barrels help to save groundwater resources, utilize higher quality water from plants and decrease water bills.

9. Backyard vegetable gardens provide your family with fresher, cheaper, and more nutritious produce. Growing your own food cuts down on carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption created by length of transit (7 to 10 days) from the farm to the grocery store.

11. Plant native trees and shrubs to create habitat for wildlife and reduce the need for mowing.

12. Mow high. Mowing your grass at 3 to 4 inches in height will reduce your frequency of mowing, thus saving fuel, and help to discourage weeds. And leave the clippings. Instead of paying for fertilizers leave the clippings and mow over fall leaves.